UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

The Corresponence of James McNeil Whistler

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Sarah Alias, ca 1849-??

Nationality: English
Date of Birth: 1849 ca
Place of Birth: London
Date of Death:
Place of Death:

Identity:

Sarah Alias, the wife and business partner of Charles Alias, was a theatrical costumier. Her husband was also an art editor. Their theatrical costume business had its premises at 114 St Martin’s Lane, Mayfair.

Life:

Alias and her husband supplied costumes for the Christmas 1879 pantomime Gulliver in which both Connie Gilchrist and Nellie Farren appeared.

Following JW's return from Venice in 1880, he approached Alias about making a dress to his own design to be worn by Maud Waller as she posed for Scherzo in Blue: The Blue Girl (YMSM 226). According to Maud Waller's sister, Mrs Marzetti, the dress cost a great deal.

Alias' husband was art editor to John Hollingshead's The Story of Leicester Square (London, 1892).

Bibliography:

UK census 1881 from http://www.familysearch.org (accessed 2004); Pennell, Elizabeth Robins, and Joseph Pennell, The Life of James McNeill Whistler, 2 vols, London and Philadelphia, 1908; Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer and Hamish Miles, The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler, New Haven and London, 1980; MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995.